Apple’s fall iPhone event has become one of the easiest product launches to predict. Every year since 2011, we’ve gotten the full lineup of new iPhones, joined in 2014 by the Apple Watch, and occasionally a related launch like AirPods or Apple Pay.
According to strong rumors, this year’s keynote will be quite different from previous ones. While it will still be an iPhone event, only the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and the long-rumored foldable iPhone Ultra are expected to be announced, along with the Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4.
That means there will be a lot of disappointed Apple fans this year. Here’s what’s not coming—and when to expect it to arrive.
For years, Apple has announced every flagship iPhone model at the same event in September. But that seems set to change this year as Apple both expands and shifts its iPhone lineup to welcome new models.
Multiple reports suggest Apple is splitting its iPhone roadmap into two launch windows. Premium models, including the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, and the foldable iPhone Ultra, are expected to debut this September. The standard iPhone 18, however, is rumored to arrive several months later, likely alongside the spot usually reserved for the iPhone 18e.
This would mark a major shift in Apple’s strategy and will make the September keynote much more of a “Pro” event than a simple iPhone event as we know it today.
From Apple’s perspective, the move makes sense. Launching six phones at once inevitably means some products receive far less attention than others. Separating the lineup gives Apple two opportunities each year to dominate the smartphone conversation while also simplifying manufacturing and supply chain logistics.
For buyers, though, it creates a different problem. If you’re interested in Apple’s more affordable phones, the September keynote may not have much to offer. That means you’ll probably have to wait much longer to buy the phone you want.
Another notable omission from this year’s September keynote is likely to be the iPhone Air. Apple spent a lot of time talking about its new ultra-thin iPhone last year. This time, however, rumors suggest that we won’t see a new Air alongside the new iPhone 18 Pro and Ultra.
Instead, Apple reportedly plans to keep the current iPhone Air on the market for a few more months before introducing a new model in the spring with the 18 and 18e. Since this is the first update, this would put the Air on a slower update cycle, more similar to products like the iPad Pro, rather than the standard iPhone lineup, though it’s unclear whether the 3rd-gen model would arrive next spring or the following fall.
A longer update cadence makes sense if you consider what the Air represents. It’s less about chasing annual performance gains and more about offering a unique design for people who prioritize thinness above everything else. Also, according to multiple sources, Apple is still exploring ways to improve the iPhone Air’s hardware in light of the model’s low sales figures.
The Apple Watch SE 3 will likely stick around for another year.
Another Apple product that doesn’t follow a regular update cycle is the Apple Watch SE. Last year, Apple updated its most affordable smartwatch with the latest chip and an always-on display, while keeping the same Series 4-based design introduced with the original Apple Watch SE in 2020.
Those waiting for a new version of the Apple Watch SE will likely have to wait another year, as there are no rumors of a new SE model coming out this fall. That’s not a surprise, as Apple has never updated the Apple Watch SE in back-to-back years.
At $249, the Apple Watch SE is still an easy recommendation for first-time Apple Watch buyers, but it’s becoming increasingly hard to ignore just how outdated it looks compared to the flagship models.
